Testing device



Dec. 13, 1932. L J COMBE 1,891,141

TESTING DEVICE Filed May lO, 1930 am fz ambe,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1932 Louis J. ooMBE, oF Los ANGELES,`Garaneinem TESTING DEVICE Application led May 10,

My present invention relates to improvements in internal combustionengine testing devices.

My primary object is the provision of a n testing device for testing thecylinders of internal combustion engines in such way as to positivelytell which of the cylinders are in perfect working condition. f

A further object is the provision of a testing device which is designedto be suspended from the connecting rod between the radiator and thefront of the body of an automobile and which has electric conductorsconnected therewith and provided with clips for l5 clamping on certainof the spark plugs of the engine to short circuit such spark plugs, theclip of one of such conductors, however, being attached to a headbolt orotherwise Welded on the motor block so that the working of the 20cylinder to which the ground clip is not ato ytached can be ascertainedwithout the removal of the spark plug therefrom, it being understoodthat the remaining cylinders are tested in the same manner. l

-A still further object isthe provision of a testing device for thispurpose that comprises a flexible member which may be readily bent sothat the same can be easily positioned in the toolbox of the machine.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists intheimprovement hereinafterdescribed and deinitely claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sufficient portion of an automobile toillustrate theapplication of my improvement thereon, parts being brokenaway and parts in section.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the improvement per se.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the improvement with parts in section.

In Figure 1 of the drawing the numeral 1 d esignates the motor of anautomobile, 2 the spark plugs and 3 the brace rod which is securedbetween the radiator and the front of the body of the automobile. n

My improvement comprises a iexible tubular head 4: of insulatingmaterial. The head 4L, being flexible is susceptible toV bending so '50that the same can be folded into a small size 1930. serialfno; 451,471;

which can be readily accommodatedin a machinists work box. `Secured tothe top of the head, at points equidi'stant from the ends thereof, thereis a pair of outwardly extending stems 5 which merge into-hooks 6. The55 stems are of insulating material and are preferably centrallyreinforced by wire-members 5 as disclosed by Figure 3 vofthe drawing,the wire members having their ends embedded in the head land the stems 5may be integrally 50 formed with the said headL 4 or otherwise fixedlysecured thereto. The hook-carrying stems are also flexible so that thesame may kbe bent against the hea-dpto produce a small pack-V age whenthe deviceis `not infuse.

Received in the headpand tightly coinpressed .y therein there L,are theinsulating sheathings 7 for wire conductors 7, yOne of the conductorsextends entirelythrough the sheathings in the head, and the saidsheathings orinsulating coverings are broken away or divided at pointsso that the intermediate wires 7 maybe wound aroundand solderedtothelongitudinal wire that extends entirely through the headl as disclosedby Figure 3 of the drawing. The insulatingsheathings for the central orintermediate wires may be formed vwith or otherwise secured to the headA as is also disclosed by Figure 3 of the drawings while the sheath- S0ings that project throughy the ends of the head are extended for thesame length as the intermediate sheathings and all the conductor wiresvhave their ends connected to y spring metal clips 8 of the ordinaryconstruc- 55 tion. The sheathings or insulating covering 7, as well asthe wires therein are flexible so that the same may be folded againstthe head when the device is not in use, and whereby the mPOVemeD' may beConveniently 90 stored in the tool box of the mechanic.

Any desired number of conductors 7 may be provided in accordance withthe number of cylinders in the engine to be tested, four of suchconductors and clips being disclosed by the drawing as the motor 1 is ofthe four cylinder type. To test say the first cylinder, three of theclips are attached to three of the spark plugs and the fourth clip isattached to one of the head bolts 9 for' the motor. As 550 three of thespark plugs are short circuited and ground to the bolt 9 the Working inthe first cylinder can be readily ascertained by listening to theoperation thereof without necessitating the removal of the spark plug.In a like manner by detaching other clips and grounding one ofthe clipsthe working in the remaining 'cylinders 4may be also ascertained Withoutremoving the spark plugs, it being apparent that the clips may beattached to or detached from the engine or from the spark plug Withoutimparting an electric shock to the operator.

It is believed the simplicity of the improvement as Well as theadvantages of the device will be apparent and further detaileddescription will not be required. y

Having described the invention, I claim:

lA testing device for the spark plugs of in ternal combustion engines ofautomobiles, comprising a tubular head of lexibleand in'-sulatingpmaterial, reinforced stems of flexible and insulating materialprojecting from the head and merging into hooks, a conductor wirehaving'a sheathing of flexible and insulating material compressed in thehead and having end portions extending throughboth ends of the head,said Wire having uncovered ends, spring metal clips fixed on theuncovered ends of said `Wire, intermediate conductor wires connected tothe first-namedwire, slieathings of flexible and insulating material forsaid intermediate Wires connectedto the head, the llength of saidintermediate Wires being approximately equal to the length of theendportions of the yfirst-named wires which extend beyond theends of thehead, vsaid yintermediate Wires having Atheir outer'ends uncovered, andspring metal clips fixed on said uncovered ends ofthe Wires.

Initestimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

vLOUIS J. COMBE.

